trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtri(l)-yən 

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times one billion see Table of Numbers

2

: an indeterminately large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

ˈtri(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Examples of trillion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

American workers have so far seen relatively few benefits from the artificial intelligence boom that has driven the stock market higher and fueled trillions of dollars in spending by the world’s top tech giants. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026

Rogers argued that el Sayed’s single-payer proposal would cost trillions of dollars and limit patients’ choices. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

Post-Apple revival The boon in online advertising, and the hefty margins that come along with it, catapulted the two companies into leadership positions and brought their market caps into the trillions. — Ari Levy, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

The human brain holds around 86 billion neurons, wired together in a vast web of hundreds of trillions of connections. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from tri- + -illion (as in million)

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trillion

• billion
• million
• pillion
• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion

Kids Definition

trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtril-yən 

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times one billion see number

2

: a very large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

-yən(t)th 

adjective

trillionth noun